A swap in Blue and Green

Posted on July 18, 2011 by mauistamper

Swap number two: SURPRISE! Blue and Green! (I KNOW!!)

Fancy Florets and Four Frames stamp sets
Whisper White, Pool Party and Island Indigo Card stock
Pool Party, Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade Classic ink pads
Pool Party Stampin’ Write marker
Pear Pizazz Seam binding and Linen Thread
Boho Blossom, Decorative Label and Bitty Bits punches

The first time I used this design and color collage , I trimmed the edge. It was a Very Long Edge. The more I thought about doing that 65 times, the more I thought I needed another design. There was still quite a bit of work involved in masking all these panels in order to get the Designer Series Paper effect, but it was much easier than hand trimming all of those edges. A girl has to draw the line somewhere.

Don’t you love that e.e.cummings quote?

A note to the WOW swappers: if you received one of these cards and it didn’t look exactly like this, please accept my heartfelt apologies. I ran out of Pear Pizazz Seam Binding and was scrambling for a substitute. (There were 2 rolls of Pear Pizazz seam binding with my name on them on a Fedex truck someplace in Honolulu; the nerve of Fedex. They could have gotten it to me on Friday if they had REALLY tried.) Some cards got 1/4 inch Old Olive grosgrain, and other had the retired 3/8 inch Old Olive taffeta. To make the card current, the Designer Label should lift off pretty easily and you can remove the old ribbon and add in the new.

Spring is Blossoming

Posted on April 14, 2011 by mauistamper

There’s a little taste of good things to come this month from Stampin’ Up! From April 1 to 30, when you spend $20 on Stampin’ Up! products (I KNOW. Who are they kidding? $20??) you can purchase the Four Frames stamp set and the Petals Designer Series paper that will be included in the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog.

I have mixed feelings about these sneak peaks. Part of me gets really excited and wants to jump right in, and part of me feels disappointed because when I come to that page in the new catalog I’ll see that set and say “oh, I’ve already got this”. Weird, I know.

So let’s check in with the excited part of me, ok?

Four Frames Stamp Set
Not Quite Navy, Bravo Burgundy, Certainly Celery and Whisper White card stock
Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper
Not Quite Navy, Bravo Burgundy and Peach Parfait Classic ink pads
Decorative Label and Eyelet Trim punches
Marina Mist 3/8 inch taffeta ribbon
Big Shot and Lattice Textured Impressions embossing folder
Aquapainter
Stampin’ Dimensionals

This is a pretty simple card, and I love how the frame on the stamp finishes off the edge of the punch so I don’t feel compelled to mess around with matting it. That Certainly Celery trim was an inspiration that shocked me a little, but I’ve come around to it and like the way it looks. (Honestly? There was a narrow piece of Certainly Celery card stock sitting on the craft table right in front of me as I was making the card. I have no idea how it got there.)

The papers the Paisley Petals group are gorgeous. I’m not a big Paisley fan, and these papers are a stylized paisley on one side and stunning florals on the other. I broke down and ordered both the stamps and the papers, reasoning that I loved them both and by spending the money now, I would have more to spend in July when the full IBC comes out. How’s that for creative financing??

Here are the details on the offer:

If you need help figuring out what to spend the $20 on in order to qualify for this promotion, just let me know! I have LOTS of ideas 🙂

Shop in your jammies around the clock at my Online Store.

Thank you in any language

Posted on April 13, 2011 by mauistamper

It takes a very special person to make a girl feel at home when she’s 8,000 miles across the world – give or take a few. Every time I talk to Sara, she has a story about Isabel, her host mom. I would love to meet this woman, but since a trip to Spain isn’t possible right now, I made her a card:

Gracias, Four Frames and 5th Avenue Floral stamp sets
Wild Wasabi, Rose Red and Whisper White card stock
Black Stazon ink pad
Wild Wasabi and Rose Red Classic ink pads
Black wide stripe grosgrain ribbon
Decorative label punch
Champagne Shimmer paint mixed with rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle
Aquapainter

How can you not love a woman who insists your daughter MUST eat breakfast so that she won’t faint on the walk to school? Who cooks hamburgers (made with ground chicken, a better choice) for the first time in her life for her American student? Who treats my daughter as her own…of course I am going to love this woman, even if I never meet her.

My daughters tease me, telling me it’s my own fault they’ve traveled so far. I raised them to be confident, strong young women. I live on Maui, for goodness sake, you would think they might like to spend time here! But they are both where they belong, and they both call to check in regularly. They don’t fool me, though – it’s not always the first question, but it’s never long before they ask “How’s Pookie?” (That’s Captain Stupidhead in Girl-Speak.)

I’m writing my message to Isabel in English, and Sara will have to translate. I want to get it right, and I’m sure Sara will make sure she understands. Isabel is a mother, too, and I think the language is the same.